The Past is Present: becoming Egyptian in the 20th centuryRoom 3, until 22 July 2018The British Museum

A temporary exhibition featuring objects the Museum has been collecting over the past few years representing Modern Egypt. The show features objects relating to early 20thC tourism and Egyptian life. Free admission.

Vicky Donnellan (British Museum) will discuss the history of classical archaeology collections in various regional museums, focusing on the stories of collectors, donors and founders, and including the changing history of displays.

From skull measurements to ancient DNA: putting John Thurnam’s collection of antiquities in their prehistoric and archaeological context24 April 2018, 6-7pmRoom 209, UCL Institute of Archaeology

Neil Wilkin (The British Museum) explores the life and intellectual context of 19th century antiquarian and physician John Thurnam, whose collection of artefacts relating to the prehistory of Britain was sold after his death to the British Museum. Through his interest in ancient human remains, he drew conclusions about race and identity; a history that reflects an enduring interest in the DNA of ancient peoples and how that interest ties into modern concerns.

Neil Wilkin's blog post discussing various strands of the talk can be found here.

Artist Harold Jones spent years recording artwork on ancient Egyptian sites in the early 20th century. This show displays some of his artwork from his time in Egypt, alongside associated family archive material.

A free exhibition highlighting the story of wartime codebreakers in Bletchley Park alongside the work of archaeological codebreakers and groundbreakers deciphering Linear B, an ancient writing system, the earliest in Europe, discovered during archaeological excavations in the early 20th century.

Amara Thornton and Caitlin O'Grady (UCL Institute of Archaeology) will introduce a screening of two short Institute of Archaeology films from the 1950s showing excavation and conservation at the site of the Roman city of Verulamium (St Albans, Hertfordshire).

James E. Snead (California State University, Northridge) will discuss the history of an iconic find, and how it affected both the beginnings of scientific archaeology and popular culture in the United States.

A free exhibition about the ethics and implications of human remains. Featuring the work of archaeologist Flinders Petrie, and a discussion of his request to leave his head to science. Further details here.

An exhibition charting the history of Roman archaeology in London, and the sites and artefacts relating to Roman London. It highlights the pioneering work of London antiquary Charles Roach-Smith, and illuminates the history of the Museum of London's predecessor, the Guildhall Museum. Further information and a list of associated events can be found here.